Attack weapon for airplanes



Aug. 7, 1945, v w. F. BOLDT 2,381,332

ATTACK WEAPON FOR AIRPLANES I Filed June 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR W.F. BOLDT BY (I I 4 ATTORN Aug. 7, 1945. w. F. BOLDT ATTACKWEAPON FOR AIRPLANES Filed June 27, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet z FIGZ.

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ATTACK WEAPON FOR AIRPLANES Filed June 27, 1940 3 SheetsSheet 5 I. n nFIG.IO.

- INVENTOR W.F.BOLDT A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE ATTACK WEAPON FOR- AIRPLANES Werner F. Boldt, Clayton, Mo.

Application June 27, 1940, Serial No. 342,647

12 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved attack weapon for airplanes.

In accordance with present methods of aerial warfare the defense againstbomber airplanes is anti-aircraft guns and pursuit or interceptorplanes. Anti-aircraft guns are ineflicient as a defense weapon becauseof the height of the bombers above the ground, the difilculty ofproperly timing of the explosion of the shell so as it will occur t thedesired height and also the One of the objects of my invention is toprovide a new weapon for planes such as pursuit planes or light bomberswhich can be easily op- V erated by the pilot above the object to bedestroyed or damaged and when operated results in the releasing ofexplosive shells that are free the to be carried earthward by gravityand so timed as to explode on or around the object.

Another object of my invention is to provide on an airplane a mechanismfor releasing selectively either'one or more explosive shells and whenoperated to release more than one to re lease them at predeterminedintervals.

Still another and more specific object of my invention is to provide onan airplane a means for releasing a plurality of explosive shells from pa tube by compressed fluid along with means for controlling the numberand rapidity of release.

Another object of my invention is to produce a new explosive shell fordischarge from a tube on an airplane which is so constructed that its iexploding will take place at a, predetermined time after the dischargefrom the tube.

Yet another object of my invention is to produce a new explosive shellwhich when dropped from an airplane will have its speed with respect tothe earth considerably decreased in order to permit the airplane to moveaway from the shell in the same direction in which both are travel-Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a perspective View of an airplane equipped with my improvedweapon; Figures 2 and 3 taken together are a, combined schematic anddiagrammatic View of the weapon showing the discharge tube, the shellstherein, the fluid pressure system for releasing said shells and theelectrical means for controlling the release; Figure 4 is an enlargedsectional view of electro-magnetically actuated releasing mechanism atthe end of the discharge tube; Figure 5 is a view partly in section ofthe shell;- Figure 6 is a sectional view of the shell showing the mannerin which its umbrella is folded therearound; Figure 7 is an enlargedsectional view of the loading end of the tube; Figure 8 is a sectionalview of the control valve for predetermining the fluid pressure actingon the shell; Figure 9 is front view of the setting mechanism for thecontrol valve of Figure8; Figure 10 is a view -of a particular switchcontrol box that can be employed for preselecting the number of shellsthat are to be released; Figure 11 is an end view of the box; Figures 12and 13 are sectional views taken on the lines l2 l2 and l3l3 of Figure 8showing details of construction.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 9 and particularly to Figure 1 there isshown a shell receiving tube l which is built into the airplane 2 alongthe fuselage from a point adjacent the pilots compartment toward therear of the plane. If desired the plane may be provided with more thanone tube and the rear ends of the tubes may be on opposite sides of thepilot so that they can be easily reloaded in a manner to be laterdescribed.

1 As shown in detail in Figure 7 the tube at its rear end has hingedthereto a door 3 and is held closed by a hand lever 4 pivoted to theopposite side of the tube. The end of the lever carries a spring biaseddetent 5 to hold the lever in door locking position by engagement withany of three notches 6, 1 and 8. The door carries a gasket 9 so that itwill be sealed tight with the end of the tube. The door is provided withan inlet ID for admitting fluid under pressure to the rear of the tube,said inlet being connected with a conduit ll leading from a source ofcompressed fluid stored ina tank l2 (Figure 2). Interposed in theconduit is a pressure regulating valve l3 for predetermining the fluidpressure effective in the tube. This valve is shown in detail in Figures8 and 9 and will be later described. p

The tube maybe made of any length to contain the desired number ofshells which are to be discharged therefrom. As shown it is of a lengthto be loaded with nine shells, l4, l5, l6, IT, IS, IS), 20, 2| and 22.The shells are held in nected to a conductor bar 49.

the tube by a catch mechanism which cooperates only with the forwardshell 22. The forward end of each shell after the first abuts the shellahead of it in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. Fluid pressure fromthe storage tank acts on the rear shell.

The shells are of special construction but may be of either the shrapneltype or high explosive type. Each shell as shown in Figures 5 and 6comprises a casing 24 having an annular shoulder 25 at its base end anda sealing cup 26 of rubber or lik material which will prevent leakage ofcompressed fluid past the shell. The rear shell in the tube is the onlyone that requires the sealing cup but in order to permit the shells tobe loaded in any order they are all equipped with cups. The forward endof the shell casing has pivoted thereto a plurality of arms 21 whichwith fabric or other material 28 secured thereto form a parachute. Thearms and the fabric when suitably folded, snugly surround the forwardend of the shell as shown in Figure 6, and are normally held in suchposition by a safety ring 29 which is pushed off when the shell isinserted in the rear end of the tube. These arms 21 are provided withprojections 30 which engage in a groove 3| of a pin 32 which controlsthe timing fuse 33 for setting oil the usual charges in the shell (notshown) such as the igniting charge, the detonating charge and finallythe explosive charge. All of the arms 21 of the parachute are acted uponby springs 34 (only one being shown) for opening the parachute when theshell is released out of the end of the tube. The movement of the leversto parachute open position moves the pin 32 and operates the fuse.

The catch mechanism 23 for holding the front shell in the tube and forcontrolling the release of the shells is shown in detail in Figure 4.Positioned on the tube I is a slidable sleeve 33' biased into engagementwith a shoulder 34' by a strong coil spring 35 surrounding the tube andinterposed between the sleeve and a second shoulder 36. Carried by thesleeve are a plurality of detents 31 circumferentially spaced andpositioned to slide at right angles to the tube. These detents projectinto the tube through longitudinal slots 38 and cooperate with theshoulder 25 on a shell to hold the shell and also those 1 rearwardthereof in the tube. Slidably mounted on the sleeve 33' is a secondsleeve 39 having projections 40 provided with cam surfaces 4| forcooperating with cam surfaces 42 on the detents. The sleeve 39 issurrounded by a magnetic coil 43 which when energized moves the sleevelongitudinally toward the rear of the tube and thus pulls th detentsradially outward so as to no longer hold a shell from being pushed outof the tube by the fluid pressure acting thereon. Each detent is biasedinwardly by a spring. 44 and a spring 45 biases the sleeve 38 to aposition wher the detents are free to extend into the tube.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the electric control for the magnetic coilwill now be described whereby the detents 31 maybe withdrawn to releaseeither one shell or any other number. One end of the coil 43 isconnected to the tube by a conductor48 and then to ground by a con.-ductor 41. The other end of the coil is connected to a conductor 48which in turn is con- This bar is connected to another bar 50 by aplurality of parallel circuits 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 51 and 58. The

bar is connected with a grounded battery 59 through a manual push buttonswitch 60. Interposed in the parallel circuits are switches BI, 62, 63,64, 65, 66, 61 and 68 each comprising movable contact elements 10 and 1!which are normally open. The switches are shown as'being movable toclosed position by a manual slide bar 12 which cooperates with themovable contact element 10 of each switch in succession. Thus any numberof switches can be closed as desired. 7

The movable element H of each switch is moved by a solenoid 13 wherebythe switch, if closed by the slide bar, can be opened notwithstandingsaid bar is in a switch closing position. Also each movable contactelement 1I carries a catch element 14 for engaging a pivoted hook 15 tothus hold the element. 1I inits opened position after being moved by thesolenoid. The catches 14 can be released from the hooks by a slide rodhaving lugs 81 for swinging. the hooks.

The solenoids are connected. in parallel circuits 82, 83, 84, 85, 86,81, 88 and 89 grounded through the tube and provided with switches 90.

9|, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and '31 mounted in longitudinal spaced relationon the tube. Each of these switches has a contact element carried by adiaphragm 98 which can be acted on by the compressed fluid in the tubethrough a port 99. The switches are normally open when shells are in thetube since no fluid pressure can act on the diaphragms. Whenever a shellis released out of the end of the tube and the shells move forward aswitch will be closed. Thusthe switch 90 will be closed when the firstshell is released. When a second shell is released the switch 9| will beclosed and so on. All the switches will be causedto be closed when eightshellsare released. The parallel circuits containing the solenoids areconnected to a common conductor bar I00. This bar is connected byconductors IOI and I02 and a switch I03 to the battery in the mannershown.

The switch I03 is adapted to be closed by the withdrawal of'the detents31 at the forward end of the tube and as shown in Figure 4 the switch ispreferably so mounted as to be controlled by the sleeve 39. One elementI04 of the switch is fixed to an insulation member I05 mounted on thesleeve 33". The other element I06 is yieldable and is engaged by aslidable member I01 which is acted on by a spring I08 for holding it inengagement with a projection 40. Thus when the sleeve 39 is moved by theenergization of coil 43 to withdraw the detents the spring I08 will movethe slidable member I01 and cause the element I06 to contact element I04and close the switch after the detents are completely withdrawn from thetube.

Each of the parallel circuits 82, 83, 84, etc., have associatedtherewith lamps I09, one terminal of which is connected to a parallelcircuit and the other terminal of which is connected to a conductor barI I0 which in turn is connected by a conductor III to the conductor I02connected to the battery. Thus whenever a parallel circuit is energizedto energize a solenoid a lamp will be lighted to show that such circuithas been closed. This indicates the number of shells which have beenreleased because the parallel circuits and solenoids cannot be energizeduntil shells have been released to close the switches 90, 9|, and 92,etc. 1

Referring again to Figure '1 there is shown as- 9, the valve mechanismcomprises a sociated with the door 3 of the tube a valve mechanism forcontrolling thefiow of fluid under pressure from the tank to the tube.The inlet I leads into a chamber H2 having a port H3 connecting it tothe tube. Cooperating with the port is a valve element H4 carried on astem I I5 which extends through a slightly oversize hole H6 and into achamber II'I where it is secured to a diaphragm H8 dividing the chamberI I1 into two compartments. The left side of the chamber is in directcommunication with the tube by a port hole H9. The stem is manuallycontrolled by a push button I projecting through the door'and connectedto the stem by a lost motion connection I2I. The button is adapted to beengaged by the lever 4 and is biased outwardly by a spring I22.

When the lever is in a position to open the door the spring I22 actingthrough the push button will seat valve element H4 thus cutting offcommunication between the tank and tube. The same condition is presentif the door is closed and the lever is in a position where detent 5 onthe lever engages notch 6. If the lever is in a position where detent 5engages notch 8 then the valve element H4 will be positively held offits seat and fiuid under pressure can fiow into the tube continuously.

If the lever, after having the detent set in notch 8, is withdrawn aftera short period of time and the detent placed in the central notch 'Ithen the valve element will be so conditioned that it will closeautomatically if the pressure in the tube should suddenly drop toatmospheric pressure as when the last shell is discharged out H6. Thediaphragm will thus be thrown to the left thereby closing the valveelement. The pressure acting on the head of said valve element willmaintain it closed.

As previously mentioned the pressure of the fluid admitted to the tubeis regulated by the valve I3. This pressure determines the rapidity atwhich the shells are released, that is, the time interval between thedischarge of the shells when more than one is released by maintainingthe detents of the catch mechanism withdrawn. If I a high pressure isemployed more shells will be ejected in a given eriod of time than if alower pressure is employed. As shown in Figures 8 and casing I23provided with a diaphragm I24. The chamber I25 on the right side of thediaphragm is connected to the conduit leading to the tube. On the otherside of the diaphragm there is provided a bellows I26 connected to thediaphragm and the casing and communicating with the conduit leading fromthe storage tank. A port hole I21 connects the bellows with chamber I25.A spring I28 acts on the diaphragm and biases it to the right. Withinthe bellows is a guide support for a valve element I29 associated withthe port hole and which is held against rotative movement but is free tomove axially. This valve element has a threaded bore for cooperationwith a threaded stem I30 rotatably mounted in the casing and havingsecured to its outer end a lever I3I. Suitable indicia can be placed onthe casing for indicating positions of the lever corresponding tocertain pressures which determine the time intervals between the shellsbeing discharged. By rotating the stem the axial position of the valveelement can be changed relative to the port in the diaphragm. With thevalve structure just described it is apparent that with a high pressurein the tank a reduced presssure can be maintained in the tube. As soonas a predetermined pressure builds up in the tube and the chamber I25the diaphragm will be moved to the left and engage the, valve element sothat no more pressure can build up. The predetermined pressure isdetermined by the spring I28 and the position of the valve element. Bychanging the position of the valve element (turning the lever) thepressure necessary to move the diaphragm against the spring and to aposition where the port hole will be closed can be changed. If desiredthe tube can be provided with a pressure gauge I32 (Fig ure 2).

In operation of the attack weapon just described the tube is firstloaded with the nine shells which will be held in the tube by thedetents of the catch mechanism engaging the shoulder 25 on the forwardshell. The door to the tube is closed and the detent placed in the notch8. Fluid under pressure determined by the rotating valve I3 will now beadmitted to the tube. The lever is now moved back so that the detent isin notch I whereby the valve element H4 can automatically close and cutoff the air when all the shells have been released. When it is desiredto release the shells the number of shells to be released is firstpreselected. This is done by moving the slide I2 so as to close thedesired number of switches 6 I, 62, 63, etc. If eight shells are to bereleased all the switches are closed. As shown in. Figure 2 the slideisset to release five shells. All that is necessary now is to close thepush button switch which may be positioned at any point desired as forexample on a control element of the airplane. The coil 43 of thereleasing mechanism is now energized and the detents Z'I'I withdrawn.-The fluid pressure behind the shells now forces the shells out, thespeed of release (the number of shells released in a given period oftime) being determined by the fluidpressure in the tube. If the pushbutton is held down the five preselected shells will be discharged.

As'the first shell is. discharged and the remaining; shells move forwardin the tube the port hole 99- of switch -will be uncovered and fluidpressure will close the switch thus energizing the solenoid 'I3'in theparallel circuit 82, the switch I03 already having been closed by thewithdrawal of the detents. The element. II of switch 6| will now bemoved downward and locked and said switch opened. The lamp I89associated with parallel circuit 8| will also be lighted to indicatethat one shell hasbeen released. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 two shellshave been released of the five preselected. When all five preselectedshells have been released the coil 43 will be no longer energized andtherefore the spring 45 will act on the sleeve and permit the detents toagain extend into the tube. These detents will now engage the shoulderon the sixth shell and retain ligand the remaining shells notpreselected, in the tube. The spring 35 will absorb the shock of theshell being engaged by the detents. and the recoil is dampened by theair pressure acting on the rear shell.

'When a shell is released the parachute thereof is immediately opened bythe springs 34 and as the umbrella reaches full open position underinfluence of the air drag it sets off the time fuse. The shell alsoimmediately begins to fall under the influence of gravity, the distanceof fall, neglecting air friction, being approximately 16 feet at the endof the first second, 64 feet at the end of the second, 144 feet at theend of the third second, etc. as is well known. If the time fuse is -setfor three seconds the shell will have dropped about 200 feet at the timeit explodes. The opening of the parachute results in added area actedupon by the air and therefore the rate of speed in the direction of theplane will be reduced, thus permitting the airplane to draw away fromthe shell as well as. being above the shell at the time it explodes.

When an airplane, especially a pursuit plane is equipped with the weaponjust described it is possible to attack a bomber with almost certaintyof either destroying or damaging it and with minimum danger to thepursuitplane and pilot. Since it is possible with the device to releasethe eight shells in about one second a barrage can be laid down in sucha manner that at least one shell should be effective. The short time inwhich the shells are released does not permit the bomber to maneuveraway from the barrage. All the pursuit plane pilot need do is dive downfrom above either ahead or behind the bomber at a very high speed, suchas 400 to 600 miles per hour and then level off above the bomber at sayabout 200 feet, provided the time fuse of each shell is set so as toexplode the shell in three and one-half secondsor by the time the shellhas fallen groundward about 200 feet. If the pursuit plane is comingfrom the rear of the bomber the pilot will select the number of shellshe wishes to release and at the proper time before he gets directly overthe bomber presses the push button switch 60 and holds it closed. Theselected number of shells will then be released in succession and fallgroundward. At the same time the will continue to move in the directionof flight of the plane but at a slower speed due to the parachute actingas a decelerator. Since bombers only travel about 250 miles an hourwhereas pursuit planes can travel as high as 600 miles per hour whencoming out of a power dive the released shells at the time of theirexplosion will be at or near the bomber. If the first shell explodes atthe rear of the bomber the next one will explode forward of said firstshell because it is released after the first shell. Since the effectiverange of each shell when exploded is around a radius of approximatelytwo hundred feet, depending on the burst pattern, one or more of thereleased shells will be bound to do damage to the bomber. The explodingof the shells cannot do damage to the pursuit plane because aspreviously stated the plane will be both above and ahead of the shell agood distance when it explodes. If all eight shells are released thedistance between the first and last exploded shell will be approximatelyfifteen hundred feet or somewhere near a quarter of a mile. If it isdesired to have a smaller range a fewer number of shells will bereleased successively. Thus it is seen it will be almost impossible forthe bomber to escape undamaged.

The range covered by the exploding shells of course will vary accordingto speed of the pursuit plane and the timeinterval between release ofthe shells. 'The time interval however can be varied by increasing ordecreasing the fluid pressure acting on the rear shell.

If a frontal attack is made on the bomber the beginning of the releaseof the shells must be made when the plane is farther away from thebomber than when a rear attack is made because the pursuit plane andbomber are traveling toward each other.

In making the attack the pursuit plane pilot need only make twoestimates and these need not be accurate. He must first judge by hissights the distance that he must keep above the bomber and the time atwhich he must begin to release the shells. To operate the weapon he needonly push a button thus leaving himself practically fre to maneuver hisplane. In a frontal attack the shells will be all released before hegets directly above the bomber thus he is free to climb above and awayfrom the bomber before the guns carried by said bomber can be fullyeffective. In a rear attack the shells will all be released by about thetime the pursuit plane is just over the bomber thus also giving thepilot a chance to get quickly out of the range of the bombers guns.

A plane using the attack weapon described can make a very successfulfrontal attack which was heretofore practically impossible with anydegree of success. Also the Weapon gives the pilot the means to obtainthe fire power of an extremely large caliber gun and continue with thefire rapidity of a smaller caliber gun such as a machine gun, since theeight shells can if desired be all discharged in approximately onesecond. lhe attack weapon is also very efficient in strafing troops at alow altitude as the plane can release the shells and be away before theshells explode. If shrapnel shells are used, terrific damage can beinflicted over a considerable area.

Only eight shells or a lesser number can be released successively in thedescribed nine shell tube. The ninth shell remains in the tube fordefense purposes in case of an attack on the pursuit plane. This shell,however, can be released by resetting the switch 6| after releasing thehooks. All that is necessary then to release the shell is to push thebutton switch 60.

In equipping the plane with the attack weapon, it is also advisable topermit the tube to be reloaded by the pilot in flight. This can beaccomplished by employing a shell rack I33 (Figure 1) at the rear end ofthe tube. This rack is preferably built so that th extra shells are oneabove each other, with the upper one directly behind the door of thetube. The door can then be opened and th shells pushed directly into thetube by using only one hand. A spring arrangement (not shown) can beemployed to move the shells up in the rack as the top shell is pushedinto the tube. With these extra shells the pilot after making an attackcan climb up above the bomber again, reload with one hand and come backagain for another attack on the same or a different bomber. If eachpursuit plane has two tubes and two extra load racks, the pilot can makefour attacks with eight shells or even more attacks if fewer shells arereleased at one time. If less than all the shells are released, thepilot can reload before releasing the remaining shells if he so desires.

In Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, there is shown a control box which may beused for the diagrammatic arrangement shown in Figure 2. The casing I34contains all the preselecting means for closing the switches GI, 62, 63,etc., the solenoids I3 for opening the switches, and the lamps forindicating the number of shells released. Extending into the casing areth conductor bars 49, 50, I09 and H0, suitably insulated. Each of theswitch constructions are identical, switch 6I being shown in section inFigure 12. The contact elements 10 and II are in the form of leafsprings attached respectively to the bars 50 and 49. Each switch isclosed by a lever I35 pivoted in the top of casing I34. Withinv thecasing are the solenoids 13, one being positioned under each leaf springI'I. Also at the side of the casing are the lamps I09 connected in thesame manner as in the diagrammatic showing. Each leaf spring contactelement 'II' has 9. turned up portion I36 for engaging in a cally. Theswitches GI, 62, 63, ,etc., are closed by the levers I35. The number ofshell desired to be released in succession are preselected by moving thelevers from right toleft as viewed in Figure 12. As the shells arereleased, the

solenoids I3 are.energized and the switch opened and the lamp lighted. v

The rotatable shaft- I38 has secured to its end a collar I40 carrying aprojection I-4I which fits into a recess I42. A coil spring I43 isconnected to the shaft by a friction ring I43 and biases it to a givenposition. The spring also acts axially on the shaft to hold theprojection in the recess. The outer end of the shaft has a knurledbutton I44 thereon for rotating the shaft. The

construction permits the switches GI, 62, 63, etc., to be reset. Toaccomplish this the shaft 138 is pulled longitudinally to release theprojection MI and then rotated counter-clockwise (Figure 11) 36 degrees.The recesses I45 in the opposite side of the shaft from the recesses I31permit the leaf spring II to again assume its position engaging stopI39. To release the ninth shell the control shaft is turned only 180degrees in a counter-clockwise direction. This again closes the switchesso that when the button 69 is pressed, the detents will release theshell.

Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the particularstructure herein described without departing from the fundamentalprinciples of my invention, I do not intend that its scope be limitedexcept as set forth by the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, a catch mechanism cooperating with the forward shellfor holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, and means for so controlling the catchmechanism that any number of the shells in the tube can be releasedsuccessively, said last named means comprising means for preselectingthe number of shells to be released, and means for releasing the catchmechanism and holding it released while said preselected number ofshells is released. r

2. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, a catch mechanism cooperating with the forward shellfor holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, a solenoid for releasing the catchmechanism, a plurality of parallel electrical circuits for the solenoid,a switch for each circuit, manuallycontrolled means for closing the switches, and automatically-controlled means for opening the circuitssuccessively upon the release of the shells,

3. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tubeto-contain the shells, a catch mechanism cooperating with the forwardshell for holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, a solenoid for releasing the catchmechanism, a plurality of parallel electrical circuits for the solenoid,a switch for each circuit, manuallyplacing fluid under :presure behindthe last shell,

a solenoid for releasing the catch mechanism, a plurality of parallelelectrical circuits for the solenoid, a switch for each circuit,manuallycontrolled means for closing each switch, a solenoid for openingeach switch, electrical circuits for each of the last named'solenoidsincluding a switch, and means for closing the last named switchessuccessively in accordance with release of the shells.

5. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, a catch mechanism cooperating with the forward shellfor holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, a solenoid for releasing the catchmechanism, a plurality of parallel electrical circuits for the solenoid,a switch for each circuit, manuallycontrolled means for closing eachswitch, and means controlled by fluid pressure for opening a circuiteach time a shell is released.

6. In a discharge device for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, a source of fluid pressure connected to the rear ofthe tube and acting directly against and on the rear shell, catchmechanism for the forward shell, control means for the catch mechanismto release the shells, valve means for closing the connection betweenthe source of fluid pressure and the tube, and means for automaticallyclosing said valve means when the last shell is forced outv of the tube,said last named means comprising a movable member subjected on opposedsides thereof to fluid pressure from the source when the tube is notempty and arranged to have the fluid pressure on one side rapidlyreduced to atmospheric pressure when the tube is emptied.

7. A discharge device for explosive shells comprising a tube to containthe shells, a door for the rear of the tube, a source of fluid pressureconnected to the rear of the tube and acting on the rear shell, catchmechanism for the forward shell, control means for the catch mechanismto release the shells either individually or in groups, valve means forclosing the connection between the source of pressure and the tube, andmeans for automatically causing the valve means to be closed when thedoor is open and open when the door is closed.

8. A discharge device for explosive shells comprising a tube to containthe shells, a catch mechanism for engaging the forward shell, means foroperating the catch mechanism to release the shells either individuallyor in groups, said catch mechanism when releasing a group of shellsbeing held in an inoperative position until said group is released,fluid pressure means acting on the rear shell for forcing the shells outof the tube in successive order when the catch mechanism so permits, andpre-settable means associated with the last named means for varying thefluid pressure and the time interval between release of the shells whenthe catch mechanism is controlled to permit release of more than oneshell,

9. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, each pro vided with means for cooperation with 'acatch mechanism, a catch mechanism for cooperating with the forwardshell for holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, means for operating the catch mechanismto release the forward shell, and spring means associated with the catchmechanism and permitting the mechanism to move relatively to the tubefor absorbing shock when the catch mechanism cooperates with asucceeding shell to hold it in the tube after release of the forwardshell.

10. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells, a catch mechanism cooperating with the forward shellfor holding the shells in the tube, means for placing fluid underpressure behind the last shell, means for controlling the catchmechanism so as to release said shells either individually or in groups,and means for varying at will the fluid pressure acting on the lastshell so as to vary the interval of time between the shells whenreleased in groups.

11. A discharge mechanism for explosive shells comprising a tube tocontain the shells in endto-end relation, a catch mechanism capable ofcooperating with each of the shells but engaging the forward shell onlyfor holding the shells in the tube, means for producing a pressureacting on the rear end of the rear shell for forcing the shells out ofthe tube, and control means for the catch mechanism, said control meanscomprising means for preselecting the number of shells to be releasedand .means for releasing the catch mechanism and holding it releasedwhile said preselected number of shells is released and means controlledby the number of shells released for causing the catch mechanism toagain become operative.

12. A releasing mechanism for a plurality of explosive members, saidreleasing mechanism comprising settable means having definite settableparts for preselecting any number of explosive members to be releasedother than at least one, and means for releasing said preselected numberof explosive members and. also the explosive member which cannot bepreselected, said last'named means embodying means for releasing of theone member which cannot be preselected but only in the event of aresetting of a part of the settable means of preselecting means to aposition corresponding to a preselection of a member which has beenpreviously released.

WERNER F. BOLDT.

